http://www.painters-online.co.uk December 2019 9THE ART WORLD
NEWS, VIEWS, INFORMATION AND SPECIAL EVENTS IN THE ART WORLD
compiled by Jane Stroudp William Orpen The Studio, oil on canvas, 38 3 31½in (96.5 3 80cm)WILLIAM ORPEN: A STUDIO ENCOUNTER
Born in Ireland in 1878, William Orpen is best known for his
portraits, becoming a commercially successful painter of aluent
Edwardian society. He was also celebrated for his career as an
oicial war artist during the First World War, depicting soldiers
on the Western Front, as well as German prisoners of war, and
portraits of generals and politicians.
This new exhibition at Watts Gallery near Guildford, Surrey, will
feature a selection of portraits alongside closely observed pencil
studies and anatomical drawings focusing in particular on the
artist’s fascination with light and space. The exhibition situatesOrpen’s work within the evocative space of Oriel – Orpen’s studio
at South Bolton Gardens, London (now owned by The Artist’s
consultant editor, Ken Howard OBE, RA).
Special tours of the exhibition will run on Tuesdays, December
3 and 17, January 7 and 21, and February 4 and 18, from 2 to
2.45pm.
William Orpen: A Studio Encounter is at Watts Gallery – Artists’
Village, Down Lane, Compton, Surrey, from November 19 to
February 23. For more information go to http://www.wattsgallery.org.
uk/whats-on